Polk teen survives father's shooting rampage

A Polk County handyman used a high-powered rifle Sunday night to kill his wife and two young sons on the front porch of their south Lakeland home before turning the gun on himself, authorities said.

Troy Ryan Bellar, 34, also apparently tried to shoot a third child: a 13-year-old son. The teen told investigators that he escaped the gunfire by running away.

Bellar chased 13-year-old Nathan Bellar through their garage but tripped over a bicycle and fell. The father's gun discharged, but he got back up and fired at least two more rounds before killing himself.

Neighbors reported gunshots about 9:30 p.m. Deputies arrived at the home at 2018 Creek Bend Drive to find Wendy Bellar, 31, Ryan Patrick Bellar, 8, and Zack James Bellar, who would have turned 5 months old Monday, dead inside the screened-in porch.

The infant was still in his carrier, officials said. Troy Bellar was lying in the front yard.

"I've never seen anything as bad," said Scott H. Wilder, a Sheriff's Office spokesman. "This is just awful."

After Nathan escaped, he ran to a neighbor's house.

Nathan stayed with family members while authorities tried to piece together what happened.

Authorities said they had not found any suicide note, and a motive for the killings remained unclear.

It's possible some kind of domestic disturbance occurred before the shooting, officials said. Wendy Bellar attempted to leave with at least two of the children, Wilder said.

Records show Troy Bellar had been arrested twice in the county, for armed robbery and aggravated battery in 1994 and for driving under the influence in 1999. He was convicted of petty/retail theft in the first case and of driving under the influence in the second.